Steam-turbine.



110.746,388. PATENTED 1350.8,19osl T.SGHEPPLER.

STEAM TURBINB.

APPLICATION IILED'MAYS, 1903. N0 MODEL.

TH: wams Finns co. Pnmaumo. wAsHmGToN. o. c.

i Urrnn STATESV PATENT Patented December 8, 1903.

TI-IEODORE SCHEFFLER, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF,AND FREDERICK A. SCHEFFLER, OF GLENRIDGE, NEW JERSEY.

STEAMfTURBINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 746,388, datedDecember 8, 1903.

Application filed May 23, 1903. Serial No. 158.389. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE SOHEFFLER, a citizen of the United States,residing in Paterson, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Steam-Turbines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to turbine-motors of thetype known as radial, inwhich steam reacts on a plurality of' turbine-wheels each carrying anannular series of peripheral vanes coacting with one or more series ofstationary buckets and delivering its steam in an expanded condition tothe next succeeding wheel; and the object of the invention is toincrease the efficiency and economy of the motor by arranging the vanes,buckets, and passages to present the steam favorably and byautomatically controlling the steam in its 'passage from one wheel tothe next by a speedgovernor. v

The invention consists in certain novel features and arrangements ofparts by which the above objects are attained and also in certaindetails of construction to be hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show apreferred form of the invention.

Figure l is a diametrical section, partly in plan view. Fig. 2 is a sideview .of a portion detached; and Fig. Sis a corresponding end view,partly in transverse section. The remaining ligures are on a largerscale. Fig. l is a diametrical section through a portion.

' Fig. 5 is a side-view,- partly in section, show' ing the iirstturbine-wheel and the adjacent parts. Fig. 6 is a corresponding faceview, partly in section. Fig. 7 vfsatransverse section diagrammaticallyarranged to show the course of the steam through all the vanes andbuckets. 5

Similar letters of reference'indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In my improved engine steam admitted to the casing passes through kanannularly-arranged series of stationary leading buckets to the firstturbine-wheel and is delivered from the latter through apertures in acon- 5o trolling-ring to an annular series of reactionbuckets. The steamis then led through an annular passage to a second annular series ofleading buckets of larger diameter and between the vanes of the secondturbine-wheel, controlling-ring, and stationary buckets, and so onthrough as many sets as may be found desirable. I have shown four suchsets each of larger diameter than the next preceding. The severalcontrolling-rings inclosing the turbine-wheels are moved relativelythereto by connections from a governor, and thus automatically regulatethe speed by varying the size of the discharge-channels through whichsteam passes from the wheels to the stationary reaction-buckets.

The shaft is marked A and carries a number of wheels or spider-f ramesA5 A6 A7 A8, secured thereto by the hubs AJ and each having a peripheralange, upon which is formed a series of suitably-curved vanes (marked,respectively,A,A2,A, and A4) arranged in a manner analogous to the theteeth of a crown-wheel and serving by the reaction of the current torevolve the shaft. Encircling each iiange or rim and revolving with thewheel is a controlling-ring (marked,respectivcly, BQ B2, B3,and B4)having angular apertures or notches b inclined in the same generaldirection as the vanes and of a width-the same aslor a little less thanthe peripheral faces of such'vanes.

The rings are held against axial movement on the wheels by steady-pinsB, extending through short circumferential slots b in the lrings andinto the rims of the wheels, but are wheels and also upon the planefaces of the ringand serving as covers for the openings between thevanes and for the apertures b. The plates are held in place byscrews C,extending through them into the rims of the wheels, of which, in effect,they form a part, but are not joined to the rings. The construc- IOOtion is the same for each of the turbine-wheels, except the last, A4, inwhich the ring B4 may be understood ,to be adjusted to produce therequired area of opening for the apertures and then fastened in suchposition by its steadypins against further movement relatively to itswheel.

The several turbine-wheels are successively of larger diameters andgreater width of face. rlhe radial depth or thickness of the rims may bethe same in all and are so represen ted. The Wheels are mounted onebehind the other on the shaft to which they are secured by the hubs A9,in which in all but the last are produced oppositely-placed holes orradial sockets a a', coinciding in direction with similar holes duin therim behind the vanes and receive short shaft or arbors D D, arms havingD D', extending at right angles and lying with their free ends in thespaces between adjacent arms or spokes of the Wheels. The outer end ofeach arbor carries a tooth or lug D2, which engages in a correspondingnotch b2 in the adjacent rear edge of the controlling-ring and serves tomove the latter circumferentially upon its rim by the partial rotationof the arbor D through motion imparted to its arm D. By employing twooppositely-placed arbors arranged to be moved simultaneously and to Yrevolve with the shaft and wheels.

turn the ring in the same direction the free movement of the ring on itswheel is insured; but it Will be understood that a single arbor may beused alone.

D3 D3 are links, one connecting all the arms D on one side of the shaftand the other all the oppositely-extendin g arms. The foremostarms,those belonging to the wheel A, are provided each with a pin D4,carrying one end `of a short link D5, extending parallel wil h the shaftand pivoted at the opposite end to the projecting end of a pin E',protruding from a ring or annular slide E, encircling the shaft andarranged to be moved axially thereon. The shaft A is hollow and isslotted longitudinally at 0,2 a2 on opposite sides to receive the pin E,extending diametrically through the shaft and slide and permitting theaxial movement of the latter while compelling it to As before stated,the overhung ends of the pin E serve as trunnions or pivots for'thelinks D5, and the body of the pin passes througha head F on a rod F,lying in the axial line of the bore in the shaft and carrying at itsprotruding outer end a transverse pin F2, engaged in slots g g in theshort arms of a pair of bellcrank leversGr G, fulcrumed in a ring G,secured to the end of the shaft and forming part of a governor. Thelonger arms extend angularly outward in a plane parallel with the axisof the shaft and are each provided at its end with a Weight orgovernor-ball G2, drawn normally inward toward its companion by theforce of a helical spring G2, attached at its ends to the two balls.

The rotation of the shaft tends to separate the balls by centrifugalforce as the speed increases, and the spring draws them together as thespeed is lessened, the movements thus produced by the short arms beingtransmitted through the rod F and pin E to the slide E and from thelatter through the short links D5 D5 to the arms D D and arbors D D, andthrough the partial rotation of the arbors and their teeth D2 D2 theseveral controlling-rings are correspondingly moved eircumferentially onthe turbine-wheels and vary the effective areas of the apertures l). Theparts are so arranged that an increase of speed moves the rings in thedirection to diminish the delivery area and lessen the speed, and thereverse.

The casing in which the turbine-Wheels revolve and which carry thestationary leading and reaction buckets, comprises, in effect, an outershell J and an inner shell H, each built up of a number of annularsections bolted or otherwise joined together in the process ofassembling.

The smallest section of the inner shell is marked H and has astuffing-box H2 and gland H3 and a flange H4, to which is secured thesmallest section J of the outer shell by the bolts J2. This portion ofthe outer shell has the steam-inlet passage J3 receiving steam through apipe (not shown) from aboiler and has also an inner fiange J4, in whichis formed an annular groove j, receiving the cover C for the rst seriesof vanes A and ring B', match ing closely therein. The main portions ofthe vanes and ring revolve in a close-fitting annular groove formed bythe space between a flange H5 on the inner end of the first section H ofthe inner shell and a similar but shorter flange H7 on a second annularportion H6 of the inner shell secured by studs HS to a flange H9 on thenext succeeding section H10 of which the flange I-I9 performs a functioncorresponding to that of the flange H5, but receiving the second seriesof vanes A2 and its ring B2.

The first series of leading buckets M is formed on the annular flange H5and lies close within the inner faces of the vanes A, and the firstseries of reaction-buckets N are formed on the flange H7 and lie closeto the outer face of the first ring B. The arrangement of the succeedingfixed leading and reaction buckets M2, M5, and M4 and N2 N5 N4 is thesame for the succeeding turbine-wheels, the only difference being acorresponding increase in size.

The cylindrical portion H6 of the inner shell is held away from theinclosing outer shell by bolts H42, extending through radial bosses H44,set at intervals in a circumferential line and bridging the annularpassage 71,', through which expanded steam from the first series ofreaction-buckets N is led to the second series o f leading buckets M2.The several sections of the inner and outer shells are similarly formedand assembled by bolting together and provide annular passages for theICO IIO

steam from the reaction-buckets to the succeeding leading buckets untilthe last of the sets4 is reached, from which the expanded steam flowsfreely to the interior of the inner casing and is lead away through anexhaustpipe (not shown) received in the opening J 6 in the head J5,forming part of the outer shell. J 7 is a stuffing-box for the rear endof the "casing, and J s is a portion of the gland.

Bearings for the shaft are provided, only one, J 9, being shown,whichmay be understood to be on arms forming part of the casing, and thewhole is secured io the iioor or foundation by lugs (not shown) on thecasing.

The annular spaces between the shells, serving as steam-passages, areshutoff from the interior of the inner shell by the close t between therevolving and stationary parts; but, as above stated, the inner shell isopen to the exhaust, so that any'leakage of live steam through suchjoints can escape easily and the pressure on the interior of the innershell will be exhaust only and `may be easily controlled withoutexcessive stuing-box friction. The pressure of live steam in the severalbuckets, vanes, and passages is practically balanced, and end thrust onthe shaft is avoided.Y

The governing rings are preferably of wrought-iron and are first fittedcircumferentially to their respective wheels and their positions marked.The apertures h are then carefully marked directly from the vanes andthe apertures then produced. When finished, the rings are returned tothe marked positions, insuring that the apertures shall lie in properrelation to the vanes even though the latter may not be exactly spaced.

By varying the area of the apertures in the rings the volume `of steampassing through the engine is increased or diminished automatically bythe governor in accordance with the load; but it will be observed thatthe steam is not throttled before entering the vanes and also that itacts with full pressure against the reaction-buckets through channels ofgreater or less area as required by the conditions, the pressure actingon the first series of vanes being practically constant; but the volumeof escape is varied. The rings may be set to allow the passage of justsufficient steam to give the required speed of revolution when theengine is ruiming light and to increase thearea of the channelsautomatically as required to maintain speed with a correspondingincrease in load.

l It is believed the reaction due to this construction is much greaterthan in engines in which the steam is throttled before entering theturbine-wheel, and therefore acting in an expanded condition in thelatter and against the reaction-buckets.

An important feature of the invention is in providing each series ofvanes with independl ent stationary leading and reaction buckets, thuspermitting each to be shaped to perform coming current and receiving theescaping current.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions of the partswithin wide limits without departing from the principle of the inventionor sacricing its advantages.

A greater or less number of turbine-wheels may be employed, and theforms of the leading buckets, vanes, and reaction-buckets may bevaried.`

Although I have described the engine as v vusing steam for the motivepower, it will be understood that any elastic Huid may serve.

Other types of governors may be substituted for the governor hereinshown.

I claiml. In a turbine-en gine, a turbine-wheelhaving a series of vanesand openings between them, a governing-ring carried by said wheel andmovable thereon and having apertures arranged to register with saidvanes and to be closed or partially closed thereby, and serving withsaid openings as channels for the passage of steam from said wheel. v

2. In aturbine-engine, aturbine-wheel having a series of vanes andopenings between them, a governing-ring carried by said wheel andmovable thereon and having .apertures arranged to register with saidvanes and to be closed or partially closed thereby, and serving withsaid openings as channels for thepa ssage of steam from said wheel, andmeans for moving said ring and wheel relatively to each other wherebythe area of said channels is varied and the flow of steam controlled.

3. In a turbine-en gine, a turbine-wheel having a series of peripheralvanes and openings between them, a governing-ring encircling said wheeland carried by the latter, the said ring having peripheral aperturesarranged to register with sa'd vanes and to be closed or partiallyclosed thereby and'serving with said openings as channels for the passage of steam from said wheel, and means for Amoving said ringcircuinferentially on said wheel whereby the area of said channels isvaried `and the iiow of steam controlled. p

4. In aturbine-engine, aturbine-wheel havinga series of peripheral vanesand openings between them, a governing-ring encircling said wheel andcarried by the latter, the said ring having peripheral aperturesarranged to register with said vanes and to be closed or partiallyclosedthereby and serving with said openings as channels for the passage ofsteam from said wheel, and means controlled by the speed of revolutionof said wheel for moving I said ring and wheel relatively to each other,

whereby the area of said channels is automatically varied and the flowof steam controlled.

5. In aturbne-engine, a turbine-wheel having a series of vanes andopenings between them, a shaft carrying said wheel, a governing-ringcarried by said wheel and having a properly its own function ofdirecting the ini series of apertures arranged to register with IIO saidvanes and to be closed or partially closed thereby and serving with saidopenings as channels for the passage of steam from said wheel, agovernor actuated by said shaft and wheel, and connections from saidgovernor through said shaft to said ring, whereby the latter is movedrelatively to said wheel.

6. In a turbine-engine, a plurality of turbine-wheels each having aseries of vanes and openings between them, a shaft on which said wheelsare carried, a plurality of governingrings mounted one 011 each of saidwheels and having each a series of apertures arranged to register withthe vanes of its wheel and be closed or partially closed thereby andserving with said openings as channels for the passage 'of steam fromsaid wheel, a governor actuated by the revolutions of said shaft, andconnections from said governor through said shaft to said rings, wherebythelatter are all moved simultaneously relatively to the said wheels.

7. In a turbine-engine, aturbine-wheel having a series of vanes in itsrim and openings between them', a shaft to which the hub of said wheelis secured, a governing-ring encircling said wheel and free to movecircumferentially thereon having a series of apertures arranged toregister with said vanes and to be closed or partially closed therebyand serving with said openings as channels for the passage of steam fromsaid wheel, a governor actuated by said shaft, a slide on the lattermoved axially thereon by variations in the speed of said shaft, an arborjournaled in said rim and hub, connections from said slide to said arborfor inducing partial revolutions of said arbor, and connections fromsaid arbor to said ring whereby the movements of said arbor aretransmitted to said ring.

8. In a turbine-engine, a plurality of turbine-wheels each having aseries of vanes in its rim and openings between them, a shaft to whichthe hubs of said wheels are secured, a plurality of governing-ringsencircling said wheels each free to move circumferentially on its wheeland having each a series of apertures arranged to register with saidvanes and serving with said openings as channels for the passage ofsteam from said wheel, a governor actuated by said shaft, a slide on thelatter moved axially by variations in the speed of said shaft, anarborjournaled in the rimand hub of each wheel, an arm on each arbor andconnections from said sl'ide to said arms for inducing partialrevolutions of all of said arbors, and connections from said arbors totheir respectiverings,wherebythemovements of said arbors are transmittedto said rings.

9. In a turbine-engine, a plurality of turbine-wheels each having aseries of vanes in its rim, a shaft to which the hubs of said wheels aresecured, a casing for said wheels comprising an inner and outer shell,annular openings in said inner shell receiving the rims of said wheels,an annular series of leading buckets carried by said casing interiorlyof each of said rims, an annular series of reaction-buckets carried bysaid casing exteriorly of each of said rims, and annular passagesleading from each series of reactionbuckets to the next succeedingseries of leading buckets, a steam-inlet passage leading to the firstseries of leading buckets, and an eX- haust-passage from the last seriesof reactionbuckets to the interior of said inner shell, and anexhaust-passage therefrom.

lO. In a turbine-engine, a plurality of turbine-wheels, each having aseries of vanes in its rim and openings between them, a shaft to whichthe hubs of saidwheels are secured, a plurality of rings encircling saidwheels, each free to move circumferentially on its wheel and having aseries of apertures arranged to register with said vanes and servingwith said openings as channels for the passage of steam from saidwheels, means controlled by the speed of revolution of said shaft formoving said lrings relatively to their respective wheels, a casing forsaid wheels comprising an inner and outer shell, annular openings insaid inner shell receiving the rims of said wheels and their rings, anannular series of leading buckets for each wheel, carried by saidcasing, an annular series of reaction-buckets for each of said wheels,carried by said casing, and annular passages between said shells leadingfrom each series of reaction-buckets to the next succeeding series ofleading buckets, an annular passage from the last series ofreaction-buckets to the'interior of said inner shell, a steam-inletpassage to the first series of leading buckets, and an exhaust-passagefrom the interior of the casing.

ll. In a turbine-engine, a turbine-wheel having a series of vanes in itsrim and openings between them, a shaft to which the hub of said wheel issecured, a governing-ring encircling said rim and free to movecircumferentially thereon, having a series of apertures arranged toregister with said vanes to be closed or partially closed thereby andserving with said openings as channels for the passage of steam fromsaid wheel, an arbor journaled in said hub and rim, a tooth carried bysaid arbor and engaged in a notch in said ring, and connections to saidarbor through said shaft from a governor, whereby variations of saidgovernor move said ring relatively to said wheel.

l2. In a turbine-engine, a plurality of tur- IOO IIO

bine-wheels each having a series of vanes in its rim and openingsbetween them, a shaft to which the hubs of said wheels are secured, aplurality of governing-rings each encircling one of said rims and freeto move circumferentially thereon, having a series of apertures arrangedto register with said vanes and to be closed or partially closed therebyand serving with said openings as channels for the passage of steam fromsaid wheel, a plurality of arbors each journaled one in the rim and hubof each wheel, a tooth carried by each arbor and engaged in a notch inits ring, an arm on each arbor, a link connecting the sevf eral arms, aslide on said shaft adapted to move axially thereon, alink from saidslide to one of said arms, a governor on said shaft, and Connectionsfrom said. governor to said slide.

'In testimony that I Claim the invention above set forth I affix mysignature in presence of two Witnesses.

THEODORE SGHEFFLER.

Witnesses: z

JAMES I-I. CooKER, JOSEPH HorPER.v

